Daniel Mickleson, The Lagoon (LANDSCAPE 2026)

This image is the result of several years of attempts to capture it. The location is a hidden lagoon that usually holds little to no water. After heavy rainfall I made the trek in and found it almost flooded, creating a rare mirror-like reflection of the forest and the Milky Way’s core above. A fleeting scene, visible only under perfect conditions and celestial alignment. It was a moment I had long hoped to witness.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.